DESCRIPTION:

The nature of human suffering, the problem of theodicy, the meaning of pain, the mystery of healing, and the discovery of hope will be theological and experiential themes central to the course. Grief, pain, loss, separation, death and dying--the major crises of life--will be explored experientially, psychologically and culturally. The focus will be on personal growth as the preparation for pastoral presence, care-giving and counseling.

The major opportunities for pastoral care emerge from loss, pain, grief, death, and the encounter with dying. Nothing is more relevant to pastoral ministry than presence and support in crisis and loss. The theology of suffering and the problem of theodicy are central issues in pastoral theology.

The course is both content and process: understanding the nature of loss experiences, of grieving, of encountering the reality of dying, of ministry in each of these crises and owning, facing, exploring and embracing our own losses. Lecture and experiential process will be parts of the whole experience of correlating theology and therapy. The class will meet once a week for a three-hour session.

Albom, Mitch. Tuesdays with Morrie. New York: Doubleday, 1997.

Anderson, Ray S. Theology of Death and Dying. New York: Basil, Blackwell, and Sons, 1986.

Cobb, John. Matters of Life and Death. Louisville: Westminster.

Davidson, Glen. Understanding Mourning. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1984.

Lester, Andrew. Hope in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Louisville: Westminster, 1995.

Lewis, C. S. A Grief Observed. New York: Seabury Press, 1963.

Sittser, Gerald. A Grace Disguised. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996.

Soelle, Dorothy, Suffering. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1975.

Viorst, Judith. Necessary Losses. New York: Fawcett, 1986.

Wolterstoff, Nicholas. Lament for a Son. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987.

A broad bibliography is in the syllabus.

1. 1500 pages reading minimum;

2. class participation in lectures and experiential processes;

3. a personal self-expression in journaling, composition, poetry, art, photography, sculpture;

4. a written project of a chosen genre--a biblical, philosophical or theological paper on a specific theme from this area of concentration.

None.

Meets the M.Div. core requirement in Pastoral Counseling (MIN 5).

Process Examination.